Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Luke Donforth via Callers]

Thanks all, for the factors you eloquently put into words :-)

Read, I think you're right that contra dancers are more familiar with it;
and that will help too. The proof is in the pudding though; or the dancing
as the case may be. I'd say get three friends and see what the two stars
feel like; and if dances feel more comfortable moving faster in one than
the other. My kinesthetic sense is that the mill grip can be faster, and
the feeling of connection allows folks listing to the beat and phrasing to
influence those who might be lagging. It may be a regional variation on how
connected folks are through their mill-grips though.

As yet another variant on the dance that doesn't require stars to go as
far, I propose the following for feedback:

Tamlin's Cast-off Cross
4x4

A1
Lines of Four go forward and back
Corner Swing, square set
A2
Gents cast off - behind the one they swung, one place counter-clockwise, to
stand next to partner
Ladies left hands across star 3/4, take hands in crossed wavy lines of four
B1
Balance the crossed wavy lines
1/2 grand hey for 8, turn to find partner
B2
Partner balance and swing

The tricky bit seems two-fold in A2, where the gents have to take their
momentum that would normally bring them into the middle with a left hand
ready and curve it out and around with a wide cast; and the ladies have a
3/4 star without a clear bench-mark of who they're landing on (it's not
their partner or the one they swung). But possibly those are minor
obstacles to a crowd you could through half a grand hey at anyway...

Thanks again for all the feedback and questions! :-)

-- 
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luke.donfo...@gmail.com 
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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Jeremy Child via Callers]

It's also much more stable as a formation, having four points of contact
with the floor rather than two.  Hence you're using less effort to keep it
stable and more goes into turning it round.

On 16 April 2018 at 05:53, Bob Green via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> ...and the radius of the circle is smaller.
>
> Bob Green
>
>
>
>
> 
>  Virus-free.
> www.avg.com
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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Bob Green via Callers]

...and the radius of the circle is smaller.

Bob Green




Virus-free.
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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Yoyo Zhou via Callers]

On Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 8:43 AM, Read Weaver via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> I don’t understand this—since you can’t comfortably give weight in the
> mill-grip (and you can in hands-across), why does it get you around faster?
> Just because people are more used to it?
>

In a figure like circle right or left hand wrist grip star, if one dancer
realizes it's moving too slowly, they can walk faster and cause the entire
foursome to move faster, because everyone is connected. In a hands-across
star, that dancer is stuck behind someone whom they're not connected to and
who also can't really see them, and speeding up just makes them step on
that person's feet.

Yoyo Zhou
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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Read Weaver via Callers]

I don’t understand this—since you can’t comfortably give weight in the 
mill-grip (and you can in hands-across), why does it get you around faster? 
Just because people are more used to it?

> On Apr 14, 2018, at 8:01 PM, Luke Donforth via Callers 
>  wrote:
> 
> Tamlin's Cross (variation)
> ...
> notes on calling: 
> I ran it with a gents hands-across star; but I think it may work better with 
> a mill-grip star for the gents, to get them all the way around faster (ladies 
> still want hands across for the balance). 

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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Luke Donforth via Callers]

Last night I ran a version of Tamlin's Cross at the local monthly dance.
Many dancers found it challenging, but folks seemed to enjoy it.

The version I ran:

Tamlin's Cross (variation)
4x4

A1
(4) All 8 go into the middle
(4) Ladies roll partners away on the way out
(8) Corner Swing, square set
A2
(8) Gents left hands star 1x; gents drop out
(8) Ladies left hands across star 1x;
ladies keep hands, and take right hand with corner (making crossed wavy
lines of 4)
B1
(4) Balance the wavy lines of four
(12) half grand hey, start passing corner you swung by right
then turn away from corner you swung
B2
(16) Partner Balance and Swing
End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your trail-buddy
couple

Two notes on calling:
I ran it with a gents hands-across star; but I think it may work better
with a mill-grip star for the gents, to get them all the way around faster
(ladies still want hands across for the balance).
One caller who got to dance it suggested describing the grand hey in the
middle as a traffic circle, that everyone merges in and out of, rather than
as a hands-free star. I'll try that next time.

Note on the name:
As some of you may know, my wife and I just had our second child a month
ago; and she's named Tamlin. I was spending some time at 2 am bouncing her
while she was fussy; and thought "Tamlin's cross... that's got to be the
name of a dance". It's one of the few instances of a dance title coming to
me before the choreography. And although she's a remarkably chill baby,
I've still had plenty of early hours awake time to mull over choreography
and this bubbled up.

Thank you all for your feedback and insights!
Luke
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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Dugan Murphy via Callers]

I agree that changing the rollaway so ladies roll their partners away
left-to-right fixes the issue I raised in A1 of "Tamlin's Cross."  I think
it would be a fun variation on the rollaway-swing transition, which, in my
experience, is always done with gents rolling ladies away.

Dugan Murphy
Portland, Maine
dugan at duganmurphy.com
www.DuganMurphy.com
www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com

On Tue, Apr 10, 2018 at 4:11 PM, Luke Donforth 
wrote:

> Hi Dugan,
>
> Thanks for the feedback! I liked the gents roll partner away (from R to L)
> when it went into a DSD (it feeds the common twirl direct); but I can see
> your concern when it's running right into the swing.
>
> Would ladies roll their partner (L to R) work better in your opinion? The
> gents would pick up the same clockwise rotation they have in a swing. It's
> more on the Ladies role to catch then.
>
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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Luke Donforth via Callers]

 Hi Dugan,

Thanks for the feedback! I liked the gents roll partner away (from R to L)
when it went into a DSD (it feeds the common twirl direct); but I can see
your concern when it's running right into the swing.

Would ladies roll their partner (L to R) work better in your opinion? The
gents would pick up the same clockwise rotation they have in a swing. It's
more on the Ladies role to catch then.

On Sun, Apr 8, 2018 at 1:11 PM, Dugan Murphy via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hi, Luke,
>
> Great new ideas on 4X4 choreography!  In regards to the "Tamlin's Cross,"
> I think the rollaway-swing transition in A1 would feel less than ideal, or
> even awkward because the direction of the rollaway is counter to the
> direction of the swing.
>
> I love that transition when the gent is sashaying left and passing a
> dancer in the lady role from the gent's left hand to gent's right hand
> right, then the gent can catch the other dancer in the lady role in a swing
> (as in "Rollin' with Rhode" by Jim Hemphill, "Rollaway Sue" by Bob Isaacs,
> "Luna in the Library" by Ron Blechner,""Roll Twelve" by Chris Page, and
> "Into the DMZ" by Cary Ravitz, among others).  I fear that the
> rollaway-swing transition as it is written in "Tamlin's Crossing" wouldn't
> be as satisfying as int he dances I listed.
>
> Thank you for your innovations and I look forward to seeing more!
>
> Dugan Murphy
> Portland, Maine
> dugan at duganmurphy.com
> www.DuganMurphy.com
> www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com
>
>
>> Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2018 12:16:42 -0400
>> From: Luke Donforth <luke.do...@gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra
>>
>> Thanks all for the feedback! I'll reach out to Erik and Nils.
>>
>> As Rick pointed out, the dance could work from standard 4x4 lines; and I
>> certainly wouldn't object to folks dancing it that way. In my head, the
>> half grand hey precludes this from many dance events, so I figured dancers
>> I could toss this at would probably not be thrown by the bent formation.
>> But keeping the non-hook moves simple is worthwhile.
>>
>> I haven't done a Dutch Crossing workshop, although I've been meaning to.
>> Nice to see Lisa getting everyone through it, thank you for the link; and
>> the reminder to learn Dutch Crossing.
>>
>> Colin, I don't remember the last time I got to call a 48 bar dance. But if
>> I get a band itching to play one, now I've got some things in the quiver.
>>
>> Jim, I'll admit Heymania is intimidating to me. I like the fixed timing of
>> contra, the squishyness of squares is a challenge for me. I'd have to work
>> up to that one with some simpler non-musically-square squares.
>>
>> As for this dance, dropping the balance before the partner swing and
>> letting the hey flow into B2 seems the simplest and most forgiving way of
>> handling the timing. I like the idea of the reunion moment being marked in
>> time though, so that partners know when they're supposed to find each
>> other. You could give the hey more time in B1 at the expense of some of
>> the
>> neighbor swing. What about the following variation, informed by Chris's
>> comments on timing?
>>
>> Tamlin's Cross (variation)
>> 4x4 (lines or bent)
>>
>> A1
>> (4) All 8 go into the middle
>> (4) Gents roll partners away on the way out
>> (8) Corner Swing, square set
>> A2
>> (8) Gents left hands across star 1x; gents drop out
>> (8) Ladies left hands across star 1x;
>> ladies keep hands, and take right hand with corner (making crossed wavy
>> lines of 4)
>> B1
>> (4) Balance the wavy lines of four
>> (12) half grand hey, start passing corner you swung by right
>> then turn away from corner you swung
>> B2
>> (16) Partner Balance and Swing
>> End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your
>> trail-buddy
>> couple
>>
>> That gives both roles the muscle memory of a left hand star in the middle
>> as prep for the handless-star in the hey; which could either be helpful or
>> monotonous.
>> 
>> I wouldn't usually chase a left hand star with a left hand star, but I
>> think left will flow better for the gents out of a swing; and I want the
>> corners to take right hands (because getting folks to balance left then
>> right seems impossible outside of Rory o'More). The two left hand stars
>> would also leave some room for silliness on the part of the dancers.
>> A2 could be ladies right hand star, then gents left; but I'm not super
>> fond
>> of th

Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Dugan Murphy via Callers]

Hi, Luke,

Great new ideas on 4X4 choreography!  In regards to the "Tamlin's Cross," I
think the rollaway-swing transition in A1 would feel less than ideal, or
even awkward because the direction of the rollaway is counter to the
direction of the swing.

I love that transition when the gent is sashaying left and passing a dancer
in the lady role from the gent's left hand to gent's right hand right, then
the gent can catch the other dancer in the lady role in a swing (as in
"Rollin' with Rhode" by Jim Hemphill, "Rollaway Sue" by Bob Isaacs, "Luna
in the Library" by Ron Blechner,""Roll Twelve" by Chris Page, and "Into the
DMZ" by Cary Ravitz, among others).  I fear that the rollaway-swing
transition as it is written in "Tamlin's Crossing" wouldn't be as
satisfying as int he dances I listed.

Thank you for your innovations and I look forward to seeing more!

Dugan Murphy
Portland, Maine
dugan at duganmurphy.com
www.DuganMurphy.com
www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com


> Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2018 12:16:42 -0400
> From: Luke Donforth <luke.do...@gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra
>
> Thanks all for the feedback! I'll reach out to Erik and Nils.
>
> As Rick pointed out, the dance could work from standard 4x4 lines; and I
> certainly wouldn't object to folks dancing it that way. In my head, the
> half grand hey precludes this from many dance events, so I figured dancers
> I could toss this at would probably not be thrown by the bent formation.
> But keeping the non-hook moves simple is worthwhile.
>
> I haven't done a Dutch Crossing workshop, although I've been meaning to.
> Nice to see Lisa getting everyone through it, thank you for the link; and
> the reminder to learn Dutch Crossing.
>
> Colin, I don't remember the last time I got to call a 48 bar dance. But if
> I get a band itching to play one, now I've got some things in the quiver.
>
> Jim, I'll admit Heymania is intimidating to me. I like the fixed timing of
> contra, the squishyness of squares is a challenge for me. I'd have to work
> up to that one with some simpler non-musically-square squares.
>
> As for this dance, dropping the balance before the partner swing and
> letting the hey flow into B2 seems the simplest and most forgiving way of
> handling the timing. I like the idea of the reunion moment being marked in
> time though, so that partners know when they're supposed to find each
> other. You could give the hey more time in B1 at the expense of some of the
> neighbor swing. What about the following variation, informed by Chris's
> comments on timing?
>
> Tamlin's Cross (variation)
> 4x4 (lines or bent)
>
> A1
> (4) All 8 go into the middle
> (4) Gents roll partners away on the way out
> (8) Corner Swing, square set
> A2
> (8) Gents left hands across star 1x; gents drop out
> (8) Ladies left hands across star 1x;
> ladies keep hands, and take right hand with corner (making crossed wavy
> lines of 4)
> B1
> (4) Balance the wavy lines of four
> (12) half grand hey, start passing corner you swung by right
> then turn away from corner you swung
> B2
> (16) Partner Balance and Swing
> End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your trail-buddy
> couple
>
> That gives both roles the muscle memory of a left hand star in the middle
> as prep for the handless-star in the hey; which could either be helpful or
> monotonous.
> 
> I wouldn't usually chase a left hand star with a left hand star, but I
> think left will flow better for the gents out of a swing; and I want the
> corners to take right hands (because getting folks to balance left then
> right seems impossible outside of Rory o'More). The two left hand stars
> would also leave some room for silliness on the part of the dancers.
> A2 could be ladies right hand star, then gents left; but I'm not super fond
> of the swing->ladies go in transition. It happens a lot in swing->chain,
> but I don't think it would add to the dance here.
> 
>
> Thanks again for sharing your experience :-)
>
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[Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[John Sweeney via Callers]

I picked up a Square Dance break from somewhere that was called the Dixie
Chain Break:

Dixie Chain Break:
Heads Hey for Four with hands – Ladies lead with Right Hand
Sides the same
Heads and Sides do simultaneous Heys – when four are in the middle they do a
Hands Across Star (Ladies Star, Pull the Men in, Men Star, Pull the Ladies
in)

My notes also say that the simultaneous crossed Heys are called a Grand Hey.

The original Dixie Chain was attributed to Bill Owen in 1952 and was just:
Ladies Pull By Right, Pull the Men in by the Left, Men Pull by Right

Quite why the Square Dance community felt the need to give "Three Changes of
a Hey" a special name, when it has been around since at least 1588, I don't
know - but then they did get up to over 5000 calls back in the 1950s...

Warleggan by Joyce Walker is a good four couple dance with a Grand Hey.

    Happy dancing,  
   John 

John Sweeney, Dancer, England   j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
940 574 
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs 
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent   


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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Cara Sawyer via Callers]

Thanks for starting this strain, Luke, and for your dance.

Our Jo Mortland here in Chicago recently organized a Dutch Crossing
workshop, and we did a successful demo at our Monday night dance. Lisa's
video certainly helped us out a lot! Somewhere on the internet ours is
floating around also...and we are talking about doing more workshops like
it in the future. We can start a list of these more complicated, 48-etc.
bar dances for our Chicago dances. Have you written similar dances?

Interesting we were just wondering where in the world we could find some,
and here you write one! :):)

On Wed, Apr 4, 2018 at 2:27 PM, Colin Hume via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> On Wed, 4 Apr 2018 19:09:58 + (UTC), Mac Mckeever via Callers wrote:
> > I have called hey mania several times and it is not hard to stay with
> the phrasing - as long as you use the swing
> > after the heys to let everyone catch up
>
> I agree with that - and I add a promenade after the final partner swing,
> so that once through the figure is 3 x 32 bars.  Someone
> suggested it would be more logical to use 4 x 24 bar reels, but I'm not
> going to subject any band to that!
>
> Colin Hume
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-- 
Cara V. Sawyer
MMus French Horn
~~
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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Colin Hume via Callers]

On Wed, 4 Apr 2018 19:09:58 + (UTC), Mac Mckeever via Callers wrote:
> I have called hey mania several times and it is not hard to stay with the 
> phrasing - as long as you use the swing
> after the heys to let everyone catch up

I agree with that - and I add a promenade after the final partner swing, so 
that once through the figure is 3 x 32 bars.  Someone 
suggested it would be more logical to use 4 x 24 bar reels, but I'm not going 
to subject any band to that!

Colin Hume
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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Mac Mckeever via Callers]

I have called hey mania several times and it is not hard to stay with the 
phrasing - as long as you use the swing after the heys to let everyone catch up
Mac McKeever
 

On Wednesday, April 4, 2018, 11:17:08 AM CDT, Luke Donforth via Callers 
 wrote:  
 
 Thanks all for the feedback! I'll reach out to Erik and Nils. 
As Rick pointed out, the dance could work from standard 4x4 lines; and I 
certainly wouldn't object to folks dancing it that way. In my head, the half 
grand hey precludes this from many dance events, so I figured dancers I could 
toss this at would probably not be thrown by the bent formation. But keeping 
the non-hook moves simple is worthwhile. 
I haven't done a Dutch Crossing workshop, although I've been meaning to. Nice 
to see Lisa getting everyone through it, thank you for the link; and the 
reminder to learn Dutch Crossing.
Colin, I don't remember the last time I got to call a 48 bar dance. But if I 
get a band itching to play one, now I've got some things in the quiver. 
Jim, I'll admit Heymania is intimidating to me. I like the fixed timing of 
contra, the squishyness of squares is a challenge for me. I'd have to work up 
to that one with some simpler non-musically-square squares. 
As for this dance, dropping the balance before the partner swing and letting 
the hey flow into B2 seems the simplest and most forgiving way of handling the 
timing. I like the idea of the reunion moment being marked in time though, so 
that partners know when they're supposed to find each other. You could give the 
hey more time in B1 at the expense of some of the neighbor swing. What about 
the following variation, informed by Chris's comments on timing?
Tamlin's Cross (variation)4x4 (lines or bent)
A1 
(4) All 8 go into the middle
(4) Gents roll partners away on the way out
(8) Corner Swing, square set
A2
(8) Gents left hands across star 1x; gents drop out
(8) Ladies left hands across star 1x;ladies keep hands, and take right hand 
with corner (making crossed wavy lines of 4)B1
(4) Balance the wavy lines of four(12) half grand hey, start passing corner you 
swung by right
then turn away from corner you swung
B2
(16) Partner Balance and Swing
End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your trail-buddy 
couple
That gives both roles the muscle memory of a left hand star in the middle as 
prep for the handless-star in the hey; which could either be helpful or 
monotonous. 
I wouldn't usually chase a left hand star with a left hand star, but I think 
left will flow better for the gents out of a swing; and I want the corners to 
take right hands (because getting folks to balance left then right seems 
impossible outside of Rory o'More). The two left hand stars would also leave 
some room for silliness on the part of the dancers. A2 could be ladies right 
hand star, then gents left; but I'm not super fond of the swing->ladies go in 
transition. It happens a lot in swing->chain, but I don't think it would add to 
the dance here.
Thanks again for sharing your experience :-)


-- 
Luke Donforth
luke.donfo...@gmail.com
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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Luke Donforth via Callers]

Thanks all for the feedback! I'll reach out to Erik and Nils.

As Rick pointed out, the dance could work from standard 4x4 lines; and I
certainly wouldn't object to folks dancing it that way. In my head, the
half grand hey precludes this from many dance events, so I figured dancers
I could toss this at would probably not be thrown by the bent formation.
But keeping the non-hook moves simple is worthwhile.

I haven't done a Dutch Crossing workshop, although I've been meaning to.
Nice to see Lisa getting everyone through it, thank you for the link; and
the reminder to learn Dutch Crossing.

Colin, I don't remember the last time I got to call a 48 bar dance. But if
I get a band itching to play one, now I've got some things in the quiver.

Jim, I'll admit Heymania is intimidating to me. I like the fixed timing of
contra, the squishyness of squares is a challenge for me. I'd have to work
up to that one with some simpler non-musically-square squares.

As for this dance, dropping the balance before the partner swing and
letting the hey flow into B2 seems the simplest and most forgiving way of
handling the timing. I like the idea of the reunion moment being marked in
time though, so that partners know when they're supposed to find each
other. You could give the hey more time in B1 at the expense of some of the
neighbor swing. What about the following variation, informed by Chris's
comments on timing?

Tamlin's Cross (variation)
4x4 (lines or bent)

A1
(4) All 8 go into the middle
(4) Gents roll partners away on the way out
(8) Corner Swing, square set
A2
(8) Gents left hands across star 1x; gents drop out
(8) Ladies left hands across star 1x;
ladies keep hands, and take right hand with corner (making crossed wavy
lines of 4)
B1
(4) Balance the wavy lines of four
(12) half grand hey, start passing corner you swung by right
then turn away from corner you swung
B2
(16) Partner Balance and Swing
End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your trail-buddy
couple

That gives both roles the muscle memory of a left hand star in the middle
as prep for the handless-star in the hey; which could either be helpful or
monotonous.

I wouldn't usually chase a left hand star with a left hand star, but I
think left will flow better for the gents out of a swing; and I want the
corners to take right hands (because getting folks to balance left then
right seems impossible outside of Rory o'More). The two left hand stars
would also leave some room for silliness on the part of the dancers.
A2 could be ladies right hand star, then gents left; but I'm not super fond
of the swing->ladies go in transition. It happens a lot in swing->chain,
but I don't think it would add to the dance here.


Thanks again for sharing your experience :-)



-- 
Luke Donforth
luke.donfo...@gmail.com 
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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Chris Page via Callers]

Having tested something like this a decade ago, I can report from
painful experience
that the half hey takes about 12 beats, not 8.

"Harvest Hey" by Erik Hoffman gets the timing right.

-Chris Page
San Diego

On Tue, Apr 3, 2018 at 6:04 PM, Luke Donforth via Callers
 wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I was playing around with a new (?) composition; and since it's a 4x4, it's
> unlikely I'll get a house-party together to test it any time soon. I'd
> appreciate feedback on flow (would it work), timing (is it too much?) and
> how you'd teach it. I'm especially curious if something similar exists in
> the square dance repertoire; specifically the figure used in B1
>
> Tamlin's Cross
> Bent 4x4 (i.e. 4x4 formation, but with couples facing into the middle on an
> X, instead of straight up and down in lines of four)
>
> A1
> (4) All 8 go into the middle and shout
> (4) Gents roll partners away on the way out
> (8) Neighbor Do-Si-Do
> A2
> (16) Neighbor Balance and Swing (square the set and face in)
> B1
> (8) Gents left hands across star 1x
> (8) start passing neighbor you swung by right, all 8 half hey through,
> then turn away from neighbor you swung
> B2
> (16) Partner Balance and Swing
> End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your trail-buddy
> couple
>
> For the half hey through, all 8 folks are moving at the same time. At the
> end of A2, there are couples in head and side position (nobody is with their
> partner). The heads are heying up and down, while the sides are heying
> across. When four people of the same role come into the middle, what would
> normally be a left shoulder pass is (in my mind's eye) half of a left hand
> star
>
> I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
> Thanks
>
> --
> Luke Donforth
> luke.donfo...@gmail.com
>
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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Colin Hume via Callers]

On Tue, 3 Apr 2018 22:27:19 -0400, Luke Donforth wrote:
> I'd appreciate feedback on flow (would it work), timing (is it too much?) and 
> how you'd teach it.

I think the "Bent 4x4" is an unnecessary complication.  People expect to finish 
the figure facing the next line, not facing into 
the centre of the next set, so I would say:

A1:  Lines of four forward; gents roll partners away as you fall back.  
Do-si-do the next.

I agree with Rick that the star figure will take longer than a regular half 
hey, so just let it flow into B2 with a partner swing 
- leave out the balance.

> I'm especially curious if something similar exists in the square dance 
> repertoire; specifically the figure used in B1

People have mentioned two great dances: Hey-mania and Dutch Crossing.  I'm sure 
there are others.  There's also a nice dance by 
Frances Richardson, which I'm planning to call at the final session of 
Lichfield Folk Festival in June.  She wrote it when a 
friend gave birth to female quadruplets, and around the quads' 13th birthday 
they all danced it in the same set (very 
successfully).

The Dixon Quadrille
Frances Richardson, 1993
Music: 4 x 48 bar reels

A1: Allemande left corner, grand chain all the way.

A2: Finish the chain.  Swing partner.

B1: Men left-hand star three-quarters to corner (new partner).  Right-hand 
turn once, and face (in a cross formation, men in the 
middle).

B2: Interlocking reels of four with hands (making a left-hand star in the 
middle each time).

C1: Finish the reels (still in cross formation), give right hand to new 
partner, balance forward & back and swing.

C2: Promenade to the _lady's_  place.  (naturally)

And here's one of mine.  "Reel" is English for "Hey".

A Reel Challenge
Colin Hume, 1995
Music: 48-bar reels

Figure:

A1: Heads forward and back.  Head ladies chain across.

A2: Head ladies start a reel of four.

B1/2:   Sides the same.

C1: Gipsy right new corner.  Swing.

C2: Promenade to the man's place.[Ladies have moved one place left.]

Double Figure:

A1: All in to the middle and back.  All four ladies chain.

A2: Ladies start interlocking reels of four.

B1: Extra time to finish the reels, and two more changes.  Swing partner at 
home.

B2: Promenade.

Suggested sequence: Break, Figure twice for Heads, Break, Figure twice for 
Sides, Break, Double Figure, Final Break.

Colin Hume
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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Cara Sawyer via Callers]

Well, actually, that half a LH star in the middle is how Dutch Crossing
handles crossing heys. Here's Lisa Greenleaf calling it.
 It took a group of
experienced dancers the better part of two hours to get it, but it was
REALLY FUN once we did. Not sure about calling it on a regular night dance,
but maybe at a weekend! Love it. :):)
-Cara

On Tue, Apr 3, 2018 at 9:22 PM, Mac Mckeever via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> that looks like pretty challenging timing in B1 - you might want to
> eliminate the balance in B2 and just let everyone sing whent they get there
>
> That X formation will be unfamiliar and hard to recreate at the end of B2
>
> Mac
>
>
> On Tuesday, April 3, 2018, 8:04:49 PM CDT, Luke Donforth via Callers <
> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>
> Hello all,
>
> I was playing around with a new (?) composition; and since it's a 4x4,
> it's unlikely I'll get a house-party together to test it any time soon. I'd
> appreciate feedback on flow (would it work), timing (is it too much?) and
> how you'd teach it. I'm especially curious if something similar exists in
> the square dance repertoire; specifically the figure used in B1
>
> Tamlin's Cross
> Bent 4x4 (i.e. 4x4 formation, but with couples facing into the middle on
> an X, instead of straight up and down in lines of four)
>
> A1
> (4) All 8 go into the middle and shout
> (4) Gents roll partners away on the way out
> (8) Neighbor Do-Si-Do
> A2
> (16) Neighbor Balance and Swing (square the set and face in)
> B1
> (8) Gents left hands across star 1x
> (8) start passing neighbor you swung by right, all 8 half hey through,
> then turn away from neighbor you swung
> B2
> (16) Partner Balance and Swing
> End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your
> trail-buddy couple
>
> For the half hey through, all 8 folks are moving at the same time. At the
> end of A2, there are couples in head and side position (nobody is with
> their partner). The heads are heying up and down, while the sides are
> heying across. When four people of the same role come into the middle, what
> would normally be a left shoulder pass is (in my mind's eye) half of a left
> hand star
>
> I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
> Thanks
>
> --
> Luke Donforth
> luke.donfo...@gmail.com 
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>
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>
>


-- 
Cara V. Sawyer
MMus French Horn
~~
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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Rick Mohr via Callers]

Nice idea. I've seen figures like the "hey through" in morris dances, and I
wouldn't be surprised if Scottish and English dances have a similar idea.

I think passing through the middle (with half of a left hand star) would
tend to take 4 beats rather than 2, so the figure would take 10 beats
rather than 8.

If the "X" is problematic it would work fine to start with lines of 4
forward and back, roll away, and dosido your "corner".

On Tue, Apr 3, 2018 at 9:04 PM, Luke Donforth via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I was playing around with a new (?) composition; and since it's a 4x4,
> it's unlikely I'll get a house-party together to test it any time soon. I'd
> appreciate feedback on flow (would it work), timing (is it too much?) and
> how you'd teach it. I'm especially curious if something similar exists in
> the square dance repertoire; specifically the figure used in B1
>
> Tamlin's Cross
> Bent 4x4 (i.e. 4x4 formation, but with couples facing into the middle on
> an X, instead of straight up and down in lines of four)
>
> A1
> (4) All 8 go into the middle and shout
> (4) Gents roll partners away on the way out
> (8) Neighbor Do-Si-Do
> A2
> (16) Neighbor Balance and Swing (square the set and face in)
> B1
> (8) Gents left hands across star 1x
> (8) start passing neighbor you swung by right, all 8 half hey through,
> then turn away from neighbor you swung
> B2
> (16) Partner Balance and Swing
> End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your
> trail-buddy couple
>
> For the half hey through, all 8 folks are moving at the same time. At the
> end of A2, there are couples in head and side position (nobody is with
> their partner). The heads are heying up and down, while the sides are
> heying across. When four people of the same role come into the middle, what
> would normally be a left shoulder pass is (in my mind's eye) half of a left
> hand star
>
> I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
> Thanks
>
> --
> Luke Donforth
> luke.donfo...@gmail.com 
>
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>
>
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Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Mac Mckeever via Callers]

that looks like pretty challenging timing in B1 - you might want to eliminate 
the balance in B2 and just let everyone sing whent they get there
That X formation will be unfamiliar and hard to recreate at the end of B2

Mac
 

On Tuesday, April 3, 2018, 8:04:49 PM CDT, Luke Donforth via Callers 
 wrote:  
 
 Hello all, 

I was playing around with a new (?) composition; and since it's a 4x4, it's 
unlikely I'll get a house-party together to test it any time soon. I'd 
appreciate feedback on flow (would it work), timing (is it too much?) and how 
you'd teach it. I'm especially curious if something similar exists in the 
square dance repertoire; specifically the figure used in B1

Tamlin's Cross
Bent 4x4 (i.e. 4x4 formation, but with couples facing into the middle on an X, 
instead of straight up and down in lines of four)

A1 
(4) All 8 go into the middle and shout
(4) Gents roll partners away on the way out
(8) Neighbor Do-Si-Do
A2
(16) Neighbor Balance and Swing (square the set and face in)
B1
(8) Gents left hands across star 1x
(8) start passing neighbor you swung by right, all 8 half hey through, 
then turn away from neighbor you swung
B2
(16) Partner Balance and Swing
End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your trail-buddy 
couple

For the half hey through, all 8 folks are moving at the same time. At the end 
of A2, there are couples in head and side position (nobody is with their 
partner). The heads are heying up and down, while the sides are heying across. 
When four people of the same role come into the middle, what would normally be 
a left shoulder pass is (in my mind's eye) half of a left hand star

I look forward to hearing your thoughts. 
Thanks

-- 
Luke Donforth
luke.donfo...@gmail.com
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[Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

[Luke Donforth via Callers]

Hello all,

I was playing around with a new (?) composition; and since it's a 4x4, it's
unlikely I'll get a house-party together to test it any time soon. I'd
appreciate feedback on flow (would it work), timing (is it too much?) and
how you'd teach it. I'm especially curious if something similar exists in
the square dance repertoire; specifically the figure used in B1

Tamlin's Cross
Bent 4x4 (i.e. 4x4 formation, but with couples facing into the middle on an
X, instead of straight up and down in lines of four)

A1
(4) All 8 go into the middle and shout
(4) Gents roll partners away on the way out
(8) Neighbor Do-Si-Do
A2
(16) Neighbor Balance and Swing (square the set and face in)
B1
(8) Gents left hands across star 1x
(8) start passing neighbor you swung by right, all 8 half hey through,
then turn away from neighbor you swung
B2
(16) Partner Balance and Swing
End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your trail-buddy
couple

For the half hey through, all 8 folks are moving at the same time. At the
end of A2, there are couples in head and side position (nobody is with
their partner). The heads are heying up and down, while the sides are
heying across. When four people of the same role come into the middle, what
would normally be a left shoulder pass is (in my mind's eye) half of a left
hand star

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Thanks

-- 
Luke Donforth
luke.donfo...@gmail.com 
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